Review

Sacred Reich was a second-tier thrash band that formed in Phoenix, Arizona in 1985. Despite coming up in a crowded genre, by 1993 the Reich had released two exceptional albums and participated in some extensive tours, thereby claiming their spot in thrash metal history. Known for their brutal and heavy brand of thrash and politically charged messages, the Reich were one of the most bitter and politically poignant bands from the late 80's. Like many thrash acts, the early 90's were not kind to Sacred Reich. With an aging fan-base and the grunge explosion, the genre was largely gone by 1993, with a few holdout acts such as Overkill and Testament stubbornly carrying the torch. Although the Reich never officially disbanded until 2000, 1993 marked the beginning of the end for the band.

With the critical acclaim and moderate success of 1990's "The American Way", it’s hard to imagine that the Reich would falter, but due to label issues and a lack of interest in thrash, "Independent" came and went quietly. It’s probably best that it did, since the band decided to yet again to change their sound in favor of a broader heavy metal style. Gone is the full out technical thrash found on "Ignorance", as it is replaced with simple riffing and stale songs that seem to drag on endlessly. The tracks show little variation from each other. One gets the sense that the band isn't quite trying with songs like the slow and boring "Just Like That" being a prime example of how repetitive and stagnant the band had become. Also, many songs such as the aptly title "Do it", fall flat, failing to make an impression. Although the songs are slower, many of them aren't very memorable or catchy, with only a couple exceptions.

The album does boast a couple memorable moments, with the opener "Independent" being hands-down the best track on the record. The title track displays the energy the band is known for and contains some catchy riffing and fantastic soloing. Another stand-out track is the similar "Supremacy" that does a good job capturing the heavier side of the album. What little variation the record does show comes from an epic ballad of sorts called "I Never Said Good-bye" that showcases a more melodic and slow style than anything the band had ever done before, and it is quite enjoyable in its own right. Despite many flaws, the band still retains the same approach to lyrical content and subject matter. Politically charged songs with bitter and confrontational lyrics about social issues are abundant, albeit with a much less sharper edge than in the past.

The album as a whole can be quite tame in comparison to the aggression found one the band's other works, and the intense approach to songwriting is a thing of the past. This album is mediocre at best, and is sure to displease fans of the band's earlier works. What little compelling parts this album contains, are buried beneath stale and repetitive songs. If your seeking your first Sacred Reich record, you might try "Ignorance" or "The American Way", as this album will satisfy only the most stubborn of Reich fans.

Finding more thrash metal is always good! Thanks for the suggestion, and I may listen to that sometime. Nice dig by the way; Kreator's new album is really good.

As for the review thing, I'm really surprised with how many reviews there have been tonight. I don't remember nights being typically this active, and I dislike when relatively recent reviews get pushed off quickly. I hope this doesn't happen again with a future review of yours.

Admittedly no. Though I must say that I like the rest of your releases.

"At least you didn't say we were "selling out"."

To me, your band has never "sold out", but far be it from me to judge. Still, just because someone changes their sound doesn't mean their music isn't genuine.

As a side note, I must say that it is very easy to review a bands material and be objective about it, until you realize that they may actually be reading it, lol. Don't get me wrong, I did not care for this particular album, but to me your band is one of the best to come out of the thrash movement.